Vertigo #1 for Free

Unexpected things happen and, today, my front tire went kaput. So I have to replace it immediately, or else I have to walk to work. It's a good thing that I know how to budget, and that I have some money saved for emergencies such as these. Nonetheless, I still need to replace that saved money, and in order to that I have to re-budget my gaming, books, comics expenditure for the upcoming months.

While I was doing my re-budgeting thing, because I'm cutting my comics spending to $30 per paycheck, I went to Vertigo comics website to check out their release dates. By doing that, I'd know which comics I'd prioritize or sacrifice within a two-week period. But the funny thing is, and speaking of budgeting, I found out that they [Vertigo] are offering the .pdf of their first issues for free. Now, isn't that nice?

Vertigo is a subsidiary of DC comics, and they publish all the mature comics DC can't, won't, or don't. Most of these comics are really good, and some of them I've read and/or still read. But if you really don't know where to start, then start with these:

• Fables
• DMZ
• Transmetropolitan
• Death
• Scalped
• Sandman

There you go. Happy reading. I hope you'll love them.

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First Impressions: Legend

Yesterday, I got into another impulse buying and bought this PC game entitled Legend. I don't know anything about the game except that it's an action-RPG. But I felt so dejected after I remembered that Spore was coming out next week. Because now I had no money left to get another game. Furthermore, I had a hard time running the game because the PhysX drivers that came with it was old. But after I shot the problem, I actually enjoyed playing the game. What I like most about the game is that it's class less and that you can choose 2 from many skill sets, much like in Titan Quest. True, it's not the most advance game that you'll ever play. But it's decent enough to act as a placeholder before Diablo III comes out. In addition, it'll make Space Siege look really bad. Especially since Legend isn't from a big-named developer.

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Comics Bundle 8/20 - 9/4: Eat Skrull for Lunch!

Today's a depressing day. The rain won't let up. It's been raining since 11 this morning, and it's still going on as of this writing (12 hours of slow, continual rain). I didn't really wanted to leave the house but it's my only free time to pick up my comics. If I don't pick them up, another three weeks will pile up on me. So I really have to. Besides, I need something to post on this blog. Like another attempt on a comics review.

So, without further delays, my comics review of weeks 8/20 - 9/4

Avengers: The Initiative #16
8.4 of 10
Writer: Dan Slott
Artists: Stefano Caselli, Danielle Rudoni, Joe Caramagna





It's always a blast reading The Initiative. I like how the writers use 3rd rate, but also funky and interesting, heroes of the Marvel Universe. This issue is no different as 3D man, who's still the focus point of the story, got rescued by Ryder and Riot (aka The Skrull Kill Krew) from being pounded by a Skrull She-Thing. With a brief introduction and run-down on each other's abilities, 3D man became a part of this kick-ass crew and, together, they plan to purge all the Skrulls from The Initiative, one state at a time. Now, here's me wishing for a Skrull Kill Krew mini-series after the Secret Invasion event.

Fables #75
9.2 of 10
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artists: Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha





In comics, they always say they're going to kill somebody and everything will never be the same. But we know that nobody stays dead in comics. So, a year after, that somebody will live again and then everything will be set back to normal. That's why when they said they're going to kill someone in Fables, and that everything will be never be the same again, I never believed the hype. Of course, since I love the title, I bought the book anyways. Boy, was I wrong. They really killed someone in this issue, and with him dies an era. I couldn't even begin to imagine what's going to happen next in the world of Fables.

New Avengers #44
6.5 of 10
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Billy Tan





I love New Avengers and Mighty Avengers. I love both of them mostly because of the characters, members of each team, are so much fun. Although, as of late, the Secret Invasion event disturbed both NA and MA, and haven't featured much of my favorite heroes. Instead, they started giving us flashbacks of how the Skrulls plotted behind our heroes. While I did enjoy the tie-ins because they showcased a copious significance to the event. The last issues, however, will leave you scratching your heads. But, at least, unlike, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers #44 was bit more connected to the event. Only that it wasn't that essential.

Uncanny X-Men #501
7.5 of 10
Writers: Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker
Artists: Greg Land, Jay Leisten, Justin Ponsor





As a minority, who've watched a lot of documentaries about race supremacists and ethnic cleansing, the X-Men always had a connection with me at a personal level. Lately, however, and to my dismay, instead of fighting racial injustice, my favorite mutant super-heroes have been running around different dimensions, alternate realities, or off into space fighting some aliens or otherworldly beings. But after reading issue #501, all I can say was "That's more like it". Our heroes this time are finally back on the ground fighting back against an anti-mutant group, known as the Hellfire Cult. Unfortunately, this issue is not quite there yet. But at least they're back on track.

X-Men: Manifest Destiny #1
6.0 of 10
Writers: Mike Carey, C.B. Cebulski, Skottie Young
Artist: Michael Ryan





With all the X-Books having a little "Manifest Destiny" icon on their covers, X-Men: Manifest Destiny must be THE major event book, right? Wrong! The book contains three different stories of three X-Men, Iceman, Boom Boom and Karma, adjusting to their new lives in San Francisco. While all of the stories are quite fun to read, I just don't think paying $3.99 for a book like this, which feels like a filler, is worth it. Heck, I don't think it's even worth $2.99.

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My Top 50 Rock Albums: The 00's

At long last, my top 50 rock albums list is finally here. I've been trying to write this list for some time now. But it was really hard for me because I have a lot of favorite albums, and so the list kept changing everyday. That's why I've decided to narrow it down by picking 10 of my favorite albums from each decade instead. Also, in that way, the list, in its entirety, will be a collection of great albums from different generations.

In the first salvo of this list, I'll be presenting my top 10 rock albums from this decade. So without further ado, here's my list

10. Everything You Wanted to Know About Silence
by Glassjaw
Everything You Wanted to Know About Silence changed the content of my play list, from NU metal to post-hardcore, right after the first time I listened to it. Its aggressive and relentless sound, and the overpowering vocals and guttural screams of Daryl Palumbo, had a raw appeal to me, making it an instant favorite of mine.


9. Relationship of Command
by At the Drive-In
Relationship of Command was the first album I stumbled upon when I started foraying into the new breed of post-hardcore, and I love every single track on it. The album showcases harmonious layered dual-vocals, heavy melodic guitar riffs, and the imaginative lyrics that leaves an impact to the listener. To me, this album has become a modern classic.


8. Leviathan
by Mastodon
Mastodon is probably the best metal band that has come out in recent years, and Leviathan is their monstrous album. Each band member, especially drummer Brann Dailor, displayed their skill mastery and technicality in this album. As a result, we get to listen to complex and sophisticated chops that'll make every musician drool with envy.


7. Wiretap Scars
by Sparta
When At the Drive-In split up, half of its members became Sparta. But instead of filling the gap of two lost members, and trying to emulate their former band, the group poured their efforts into Wiretap Scars, refining their old music and achieved a more melodic sound. No more distorted feedbacks and ear-breaking screams in this album. Just sonic goodness.


6. Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I
by Coheed and Cambria
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I is one of the few albums that have been stapled on my playlist ever since its release date. As a musician and a comic book enthusiast, I just can't stop listening to it. Every song in this album is sublime, musically and lyrically, as they deliver sterling guitar work, drum craft, and the epic story of The Amory Wars.


5. Toxicity
by System of a Down
System of a Down pioneered a music which is very hard to categorize. But it wasn't until Toxicity that I really got into them. Debuted at #1 during its release on 9/11, the album became memorable to me because it encapsulated a sad history, and gave direction to their cacophonic style, birthing a new rock sub-genre, now dubbed as, "Armenian Rock".


4. Absolution
by Muse
I became a fan of Muse after I listened to Absolution. The album was so highly orchestrated that I didn't even realize Muse was only a three-piece band. It's so pleasurable to listen to Bellamy's voice over a cascading piano, heavy guitar riffs and bass lines, and thundering drum work. Additionally, the apocalyptic and dystopian themed lyrics also drew me in.


3. White Pony
by Deftones
Of all the NU metal bands that surfaced during the late 90's, Deftones is amongst the only few that I still listen to up to now. That's mainly because of what they've done in White Pony. On their third album, they've experimented with their music and advanced it beyond the "seven string" assault, giving us a sound that resembles the louder brother of The Cure.


2. Mer De Noms
by A Perfect Circle
I was hungry for Tool when I learned that Maynard James Keenan (vocalist) has a side project called A Perfect Circle. So when they released their album, I jumped right in expecting a Tool rip-off. I was wrong. Mer de Noms, while Maynard sang beautifully in this album as he did in Tool, offers an entirely different experience with its theatrically melodic sounds.


1. De-Loused in the Comatorium
by The Mars Volta
Cedric Bixler-Zabala and Omar Rodriguez formed The Mars Volta after At the Drive-In disbanded. I was disappointed at first but after listening to De-Loused in the Comatorium, I stopped whining. This concept album is laced with various musical styles, such as latin jam, psychedelic rock, and free jazz, and lyrics that'll leave you seeing swirling rainbows.


That concludes my picks for this decade. So, stick around because there's four more decades to go. The next installment, I'll list down my favorite albums from the 90's.

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